This Hot Honey Mustard Sauce is made with simple ingredients and has the best flavor - the perfect combination of sweet and tangy! Use this versatile sauce in a Hot Honey Chicken Bowl, honey mustard chicken wraps, as a salad dressing, or as a dip for chicken tenders, roasted veggies, sweet potatoes, or french fries.
As a dietitian, I love to make homemade sauces and dressings if I have an extra minute. I've always been a big fan of honey mustard sauce and nothing is better than making it at home! It's ready in just a couple of simple steps and it goes well with so many different dishes.
One of the benefits of making your own sauces is that while store-bought sauces and dressings often have added preservatives and ingredients, you know exactly what's in it when you make it at home.
I use this homemade spicy honey mustard in healthy recipes like my Hot Honey Chicken Bowl with Purple Cabbage Slaw or as a dip for Blackened Chicken Fingers. If you're looking for more homemade dressings, try my Lemon Dijon Dressing or Lime Ginger Dressing next.
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Key Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
This easy spicy honey mustard sauce is made with a handful of simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Check the printable recipe card at the bottom for ingredient measurements.
- Dijon Mustard - Dijon mustard is made from the black mustard seed which makes it slightly more spicy mustard than your typical yellow mustard. A little bit of dijon is my favorite way to add a tangy flavor to this dressing and it pairs so well with the hot honey.
- Hot Honey - you'll need spicy honey for this. I like to use Mike's Hot Honey but any brand will work. If you want to make your own hot honey at home, heat regular honey with red pepper flakes or hot sauce on the stovetop on medium heat until just simmering. Then let the flavor infuse for 15 minutes and strain the honey.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil - extra-virgin olive oil balances out the flavor of the dijon and hot honey. It also contains heart-healthy fats that are also good for brain health and hormone health. I suggest using a good quality olive oil for this recipe.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - I like to add some apple cider vinegar to enhance the acidity of this dressing. You can use lemon juice or white wine vinegar instead.
- Red Pepper Flakes - for a spicy kick.
- Garlic - to add more flavor.
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper - to tie all the flavors together.
How to Make Hot Honey Mustard Sauce
Below are the instructions for how to make this easy recipe with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
- Step 1: Whisk together the Dijon mustard, hot honey, apple cider vinegar, red pepper flakes, grated or minced garlic, and salt + pepper in a mason jar or small bowl.
- Step 2: Drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil and whisk until it's emulsified.
Alternative Option #1
Shake it up - skip the whisk and make this Hot Honey Mustard dressing in a mason jar by adding all of the ingredients, securing the lid, and shaking it until everything is well combined.
Alternative Option #2
Blend it Up - use a food processor or blender instead. Simply add the ingredients until blended (30-60 seconds or until smooth).
Hint: if you're using a whisk to make this sauce, the best way to get the oil and other ingredients to emulsify is to drizzle in the olive oil slowly at the end while vigorously whisking it together.
Dietitian Tip
Making homemade sauces like this Hot Honey Mustard Sauce can feel intimidating! But it's as easy as mixing a few ingredients. Not only does making sauces at home taste amazingly fresh, it also gives you more control over the ingredients and the flavor and there's no need for additives often found in a shop-bought version.
Variations
The best thing about this Honey Mustard Dressing is you can customize the recipe to your liking. Below are some suggestions for variations, but feel free to get creative and put your spin on it.
- Spicier - this dressing has a slight kick, but if you want it to be spicer double up on the red pepper flakes or add your favorite hot sauce or cayenne pepper!
- Sweeter - if you prefer a sweeter dressing, add a bit more honey.
- Creamy - make it creamy by adding a tablespoon of tahini.
Ideas for Serving Hot Honey Mustard Sauce
Now that you have a batch of this versatile dressing, enjoy it on a variety of different dishes! Here are some great ways to enjoy it:
- On Your Favorite Salads - add this hot mustard dressing to up-level a simple salad. It goes great with mixed greens, sweet potatoes, and chicken.
- Grain Bowl or Rice Bowl - make a chicken grain bowl with quinoa, sweet potatoes, purple cabbage slaw and blackened chicken.
- With Roasted Vegetables - this spicy honey mustard recipe is a delicious way to add flavor to boring vegetables. Just drizzle a couple tablespoons on top of warm roasted veggies like Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots or brussels sprouts.
- As a Dipping Sauce - the spicy flavors make this a great dipping sauce for finger food like chicken strips or soft pretzels.
- Potato Salad - make a simple potato salad with yellow potatoes, purple cabbage slaw, and this delicious sauce on top!
- Pasta Salads - add it to a pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and bell peppers.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store leftover dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
It's normal for the oil to separate and even solidify a bit in the fridge. Simply take it out and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes and then shake to combine before using it.
Expert Tips
- If you want it thicker, cut the olive oil in half.
- If you want to thin it out, add a little water until it's the perfect consistency for you.
- The flavors of the ingredient in this sauce can vary a bit based on brand and variety. Taste your dressing once it's mixed and adjust it if needed! If you like your dressings on the spicy side, add more red pepper flakes. If you like it on the sweeter side, add a bit more honey.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, this Hot Honey Mustard is a nutrient-rich option. It contains heart-healthy extra-virgin olive oil that has also been shown to support brain health and hormone health. And honey contains antioxidants that can reduce oxidative stress and improve overall health.
I do suggest using extra-virgin olive oil for this recipe. It is olive oil in its purest form (least processed) so it retains all the antioxidants and nutrients from the olive itself.
Absolutely! If using regular honey, double up on the red pepper flakes.
Yes, this is a gluten-free sauce recipe.
No, this recipe is not vegan because it uses honey which is made by living bees and most vegans avoid.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Hot Honey Mustard Sauce:
Want to Learn About Nutrition?
Here are some of my educational posts you may enjoy:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Easy Hot Honey Mustard Sauce (Spicy Dressing Recipe)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon hot honey I use Mike's hot honey
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes add more if you like it spicier
- 1 clove garlic
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- dash black pepper
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Whisk together the Dijon mustard, hot honey, apple cider vinegar, red pepper flakes, grated or minced garlic, and salt + pepper in a mason jar or small bowl.
- Drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil and whisk until it's emulsified.
- Alternative Option #1: Shake it up - skip the whisk and make this dressing in a mason jar by adding all of the ingredients, securing the lid, and shaking it until everything is well combined.
- Alternative Option #2: Blend it Up - use a food processor or blender instead. Simply add the ingredients until blended (30-60 seconds or until smooth).
- Hint: if you're using a whisk to make this sauce, the best way to get the oil and other ingredients to emulsify is to drizzle in the olive oil slowly at the end while vigorously whisking it together.
Notes
- If you want it thicker, cut the olive oil in half.
- If you want to thin it out, add a little water until it's the perfect consistency for you.
- The flavors of the ingredient in this sauce can vary a bit based on brand and variety. Taste your dressing once it's mixed and adjust it if needed! If you like your dressings on the spicy side, add more red pepper flakes. If you like it on the sweeter side, add a bit more honey.
- Refrigerator: Store leftover dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. It's normal for the oil to separate and even solidify a bit in the fridge. Simply take it out and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes and then shake to combine before using it.
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